Road-scraper.



H. WARREN.

ROAD SORAPER.

APPLIOATION IIYYLED MAR.,10, 191a.

Patefited Feb. 10, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E an? mrrew/ o q 6 bl H. WARREN.

ROAD SURAPER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1913.

1,086,740. Patented Feb. 10, 19M

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HENRY WARREN, OF KINMUNDY, ILLINOIS.

' ROAD-SCRAPER.

1 ,osenao.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 10, 1913.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

Serial No. 753,380.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY \VARREN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kinmundy, in the county of Marion and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Road-Scrapers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to excavating, and more especially to scrapers; and the object of the same is to produce a machine of this class traveling on runners which may themselves be set at variable angles to each other, and having across their rear ends a scraper also capable of being adjusted.

The invention consists in the details of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as shown in the drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a plan View, and Fig. 2 a side elevation of this machine complete. Fig. is a cross section on the line 3-3, and Fig. 4 a longitudinal section on the line H respectively of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the rear end of the machine, showing the rear scraper as set in a different position from that illustrated in Fig. 1.

In the drawings the numerals 1 and 2 designate what might be called the side scrapers or runners whereof each has its body composed of an upright beam measuring possibly two inches by twelve inches and about sixteen feet in length, more or less, and an inwardly curved metallic shoe 3 secured to its inner face and projecting below its lower edge as best seen in Fig. 3. Pivoted to blocks & fastened to the outer faces of the beams or runners are levers 5 carrying wheels 6 at their lower extremities and having thumb levers 7 at their upper ends which control latches 8 that engage toothed segments 9 mounted on said blocks. The construction and arrangement of these devices is such when the levers are stood upright the wheels 6 are projected below the lower edges of the shoes 3 and the runners are therefore raised off the ground; but when the levers are inclined as seen in Fig. 3 the wheels are swung rearwardly and upwardly and the runners are permitted to rest upon the ground. By preference I would employ two such devices for each runner, one located near each end thereof,

and by properly adjusting them one end or the other end or both ends of either runner may be raised as desired. Through holes 10 in said runners project cross bars 11 and 1:2, each of which is provided near both ends with a series of perforations 13, and through the latter may be passed pins 14 outside and inside of the runners so as to hold the latter properly spaced.

As seen in Fig. 1. it is my intention usually to set the runners 1 and 2 at acute angles to the line of travel. so that when the scraper is drawn forward the material gathered by the front ends of the shoes 3 will be drawn inward toward the transverse center of the tie vice and delivered out its rear end. provided the rear scraper hereinafter described is not used or is raised if it be used.

The draft mechanism for the scraper may consist of a sling in the shape of two ropes, chains. or rods 15 diverging from a ring 16 to eye bolts 17 set in the runners near their front ends as shown, and the power will be attached to said ring, whether it be in the shape of a whittletree with a team of horses connected thereto, or a traction engine having a suitable coupling connected with said ring. I might add that there will doubtlessbe a flooring extending across and probably secured upon the runners as indicated by the dotted lines F in Fig. 2, so that the operator or operators may stand thereon or may ride thereon if the flooring in turn supports a seat; but as the flooring is not a necessity and could be omitted, no further reference thereto will be made. The rear or cross scraper by preference also comprises a beam 21 having a shoe 23 secured to and projecting beneath its lower edge as seen in Fig. 2. and this scraper is of sufficient length to extend across the rear ends of the side scrapers or runners when they converge to the rear as seen in Fig. 1. and also by preference of suflicient length to extend across such rear ends if the runners be set in parallelism. This scraper is set upright as seen in Fig. 2, and is maintained in that position by means of a series of rather long and curved bolts,

each having its front end provided with an eye 2 1 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the wooden portion of a runner, and a curved body 25 extending rather loosely through a hole in the beam 21 and having nuts 26 and 27 forward and rearward of it as seen in Fig. 1. This scraper is shown in Fig. 5 as adjusted to a different position from what it occupies in Fig. 1, and this adjustment is obviously-efiected by loosening one setof nuts and tightening up the others. Of each pair I prefer to dispose one curved bolt near the top of the runner 1 or and the other near the bottom of the same, and I prefer to dispose their curved bodies in opposition as seen in Figs. 1 and 5, which arrangement obviously necessitates a rat-her loose connection where the eyes 24: are connected with the runners. Such loose connection permits the cross scraper to rest by its weight upon the ground, and in order to raise either end thereof 1 provide two levers, each of which has a. straight body 28 passing loosely through a rather large hole 29 in the rear cross bar 12, and a reduced extension or tenon 30 at its rear end passing loosely through a rather large hole 31 in the beam 21 and receiving a pin 39. by which it is held in place therein. lVith this construct-ion it is obvious that if the operator steps on the forward end of either lever 28, its mid-length rocks within the hole 29 in the fulcrum and its rear end is elevated; and as said rear end is loosely connected with the cross scraper near one end of the latter, this end thereof is raised as the looseness of the bolts permit. in order to raise the cross scraper bodily and above the ground at both ends or throughout its entire length, I provide a hand lever 38 pivoted at at the center of a toothed seg meat 35 and having a rigid rearward extension 36 which is slotted as at 37 to engage a pin or bolt 38 which connects ears 39 rising from the cross scraperall as best seen in Fig. 2. The hand lever 38 carries a thumb lever a0 which actuates a latch 41 engaging the teeth of the segment 35 as usual with hand levers of this class, and when it is adjusted its slotted extension 36 raises or depresses the bolt 38 which is at the center of the length of the cross scraper 21, and the latter is thereby raised or lowered bodily as the looseness of the eye-bolts 25will permit. This movement, moreover, is independent of the temporary raising or lowering of the ends of the cross sc 'aper by the foot-levers 28; andin fact, even when the scraper is raised bodily by the hand lever and set at a position perhaps three inches above the ground, one end thereof may be temporarily lowered by depressing the front end of one of the footlevers. The purpose of the two sets of levers is therefore obvious; when the scraper is used as such it may be temporarily raised at either end by the foot lever; but when it is thrown out of use by setting the hand lever forward, it may be temporarily thrown into action at either end by manipulating one of the foot levers.

The machine will be made of the proper materials and proportions to perform the work of road scraping successfully. Other details of construction may be added without departing from the principle of the invention. For instance, truss rods 50 might be employed beneath each cross bar, the rod secured at its center as at 51 to said bar and having its ends depending and passing through holes in the side runners to receive nuts 53; but obviously these latter must be adjusted when the position of the runners themselves is adjusted. The rearmost cross bar 12, and in fact the other as well, might be provided with an upward extension 12 whose extremities form shoulders against which the inner faces of the runners 1 and 2 rest as seen in Fig. 3 when said runners are adjusted as far inward as the series of holes or perforations 13 in this cross bar will permit; and the provision of such an extension gives the machine or apparatus greater sta bility and rigidity when in use. Other details, such for instance as the flooring F, may be added at will.

The use of a road scraper of this character is too well. known to require an elaborate description. I may say for this machine, however, that ordinarily the runners 1 and 2 are set about as seen in Fig. 1 and power attached to the ring 16 to draw the machine forward. The earth accumulated between the front ends of the shoes 3 along the same and is drawn toward the center of the roadway where usually occurs a depression formed by the hoofs of the horses, and this depression is therefore filled up slowly by accumulations drawn from the ridges between the individual wheel tracks. If low places in the road exist, the cross scraper may be dropped when approaching such a low place, and the accumulations of the runners or of the cross scraper itself which are gathered at the high places are. drawn along and dropped where they are most needed. This is accomplished by raising one end of the cross scraper tempora rily by depressing a foot lever 28 as above explained. If a road be found to have a transverse pitch or undesirable inclination, the cross scraper may be set to the rear at that side of the machine by loosening the nuts 26 and 27 on both eye bolts attached to that runner, adjusting the cross scraper, and setting said nuts; and thereafter the accumulations gathered by the shoes 3 will slide to the rear within the machine and pass out. at this side of the same. The result will be that while the surface of the road will be leveled off, the surplus dirt will all be delivered to one side thereof which of course will be the low side. If the road be wide and the draft power strong, the front ends of the runners may be set wide apart by a proper disposition of the pins 14 in the front perforations 13. On the other hand, when moving from place to place where it is not desired to throw a heavy load onto the team dragging the device, the runners slides 1 and 2 may be set in strict parallelism and the cross scraper raised, and the machine will then travel on its shoes after the fashion of a sled. On approaching extremely soft spots in the road, or bridges or culverts, or in moving the machine at times when to drag it on its runners like a sled would cut the roadway, the levers 5 are so set that the wheels 6 raise the shoes 3 entirely off the ground, and the machine can be drawn as though it were a vehicle. As there are two of said levers for each runner, they can be used independently to temporarily raise either end of a runner and permit the escape of the accumulation inside the same, in case it is not desired to permit its escape under or past the end of the cross scraper as above set forth. In fact, a machine of this construction possesses possibilities and capabilities which hardly need elaboration in this specification, but which tiow from the details set forth above. )evertheless I do not wish to be confined strictly thereto, and I reserve the privilege of making such changes as come within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a road scraper, the con'ibination with a pair of runners, of a scraper extending across the rear ends of said runners and pierced with holes, eye-bolts loosely attached to said runners and having their bodies projecting through said holes, nuts on these bolts forward and rearward of said scraper, and means for adjusting the latter vertically.

2. In a road scraper, the combination with a pair of runners, front and rear cross bars connecting them, the latter having holes through its body of a scraper extending across and loosely connected with the rear ends of said runners, and two levers whereof each has its body passing loosely through a hole in the rear cross bar and its rear end loosely engaging another hole in said scraper, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a road scraper, the combination with a pair of runners, cross bars connecting them, a scraper extending across and loosely connected with the rear ends of the runners,

and means for adjusting its position forwardly and rearwardly with relation thereto; of a pair of upstanding cars at the center of the scraper, a bolt connecting them, and a hand lever having a rearward rigid and slotted extension loosely engaging said bolt,

for the purpose set forth.

4. In a road scraper, the combination with a pair of runners, cross bars connecting them, and a scraper extending across and loosely connected with the rear ends of the unners; of foot levers having rocking connection with the rearmost cross bar and loose connection at their rear ends with said scraper near the ends of the latter for aising such ends independently of each other,

L connecting them, a cross scraper extending behind the rear extremities of said runners, flexible connections between said extremities and the body of this scraper, lifting mechanism mounted on the center of the rear cross bar and connected with the center of said scraper for raising the latter bodily, and lifting levers connected loosely at their rear ends with said scraper near its points of flexible connection with the runners and having their bodies slidably and pivotally engaged with said rear cross bar, all as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY WARREN.

lVitnesses LOUIS J. LACEY, D. HAMMERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

